History of Dr. Dre in Timeline
Dr. Dre, born Andre Romell Young, is a highly influential American rapper, record producer, music executive, and actor. He launched his career with the World Class Wreckin' Cru and later gained prominence as a member of the pioneering gangsta rap group N.W.A., which popularized explicit lyrics depicting the realities of street violence. In the early 1990s, Dr. Dre significantly contributed to the development and widespread appeal of West Coast G-funk, a distinctive hip-hop subgenre known for its synthesizer-driven sound and laid-back production style. He is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics, and co-founded Death Row Records.
1964: Parents Married
In 1964, Dr. Dre's parents, Theodore and Verna Young, got married.
February 18, 1965: Andre Young Born
On February 18, 1965, Andre Romell Young, later known as Dr. Dre, was born in Compton, California, to Theodore and Verna Young. His middle name comes from his father's R&B group, the Romells.
1967: Inspiration from David McCallum's "The Edge"
In 1967, David McCallum released "The Edge" which became the inspiration for the main melody from The Next Episode.
1968: Parents Separated
In 1968, Dr. Dre's parents, Theodore and Verna Young, separated.
1972: Parents Divorced
In 1972, Dr. Dre's parents, Theodore and Verna Young, divorced.
1972: Inspiration from Leon Haywood's "I Wanna Do Somethin' Freaky to You"
In 1972, Leon Haywood released "I Wanna Do Somethin' Freaky to You", which Dr. Dre sampled for "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" in 1992.
1976: Started at Vanguard Junior High School
In 1976, Dre began attending Vanguard Junior High School in Compton, but later transferred due to gang violence.
1979: Attended Centennial High School
In 1979, Dre attended Centennial High School in Compton during his freshman year, later transferring due to poor grades.
December 15, 1981: Dr. Dre's Son Curtis Young is Born
On December 15, 1981, Dr. Dre's son, Curtis Young, was born to Dre and his then-girlfriend Cassandra Joy Greene.
1983: Birth of La Tanya Danielle Young
In 1983, Dr. Dre and Lisa Johnson had a daughter named La Tanya Danielle Young.
1984: First Recording Session
In 1984, Dre and Yella recorded "Surgery" in their first recording session at Eve After Dark's back room studio.
1984: Career Beginnings with World Class Wreckin' Cru
In 1984, Dre started his career as a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru. The group would become stars of the electro-hop scene that dominated early-mid 1980s West Coast hip-hop.
1985: Joined World Class Wreckin' Cru
In 1985, Dr. Dre officially joined the musical group World Class Wreckin' Cru, marking a significant step in his early career.
1986: Meeting Ice Cube
In 1986, Dr. Dre met rapper Ice Cube and collaborated to record songs for Ruthless Records, a hip-hop record label run by Eazy-E.
1987: Dr. Dre Starts Dating Michel'le
In 1987, Dr. Dre began dating singer Michel'le, who frequently contributed vocals to Ruthless Records and Death Row Records albums.
1988: Birth of Andre Young Jr.
In 1988, Dr. Dre and Jenita Porter had a son named Andre Young Jr.
1988: Produced Eazy-E's Solo Debut
In 1988, Dr. Dre produced tracks for Eazy-E's solo debut 'Eazy-Duz-It' on Ruthless Records.
1989: Produced Efil4zaggin
In 1989, After Ice Cube left N.W.A, Dr. Dre produced and performed for much of the group's second album Efil4zaggin. Dre also produced Michel'le's self titled debut and the D.O.C.'s debut No One Can Do It Better.
1989: Success of Straight Outta Compton
In 1989, N.W.A released 'Straight Outta Compton,' which became a major success despite lacking radio airplay due to its explicit content.
1990: Produced Above the Law's debut album
In 1990, Dr. Dre produced tracks for Above the Law's debut album, Livin' Like Hustlers.
1990: Jenita Porter Sues Dr. Dre for Child Support
In 1990, Jenita Porter sued Dr. Dre, seeking $5,000 of child support per month.
1990: Tairrie B's Assault Claim
In 1990, former labelmate Tairrie B claimed that Dr. Dre assaulted her at a party.
1990: Tairrie B Claims Dr. Dre Assaulted Her
In 1990, former labelmate Tairrie B claimed that Dr. Dre assaulted her at a post-Grammy party.
January 27, 1991: Dr. Dre Assaults Dee Barnes
On January 27, 1991, Dr. Dre assaulted television host Dee Barnes, resulting in a lawsuit and subsequent legal repercussions.
1991: Birth of Marcel
In 1991, Dr. Dre and Michel'le had a son named Marcel.
1991: Departure from N.W.A
In 1991, Dr. Dre left N.W.A due to disputes with Eazy-E, leading to the formation of Death Row Records with Suge Knight.
1991: Produced Jimmy Z's Muzical Madness
In 1991, Dre produced tracks for Jimmy Z's album Muzical Madness.
1991: Formation of Death Row Records
In 1991, upon leaving Ruthless Records, Dr. Dre formed Death Row Records and enlisted the help of Chris "the Glove" Taylor, Greg "Gregski" Royal, and Colin Wolfe.
April 1992: Dr. Dre Shot in Leg
In April 1992, Dr. Dre was shot four times in his leg following a verbal dispute with his engineer.
June 28, 1992: Dr. Dre's Mansion Fire
On June 28, 1992, a fire erupted at Dr. Dre's Calabasas mansion due to a barbecue grill and excessive charcoal. The incident led to over $125,000 in damages and minor injuries to two firefighters.
October 1992: Guilty Plea in Battery Case
In October 1992, Dr. Dre pleaded guilty to battery of a police officer.
1992: Release of The Chronic
In 1992, Dr. Dre released *The Chronic*, considered one of the most well-produced hip-hop albums of all time.
1992: Release of 'Deep Cover' and Debut Album
In 1992, Dr. Dre released his first single, "Deep Cover," with Snoop Dogg, and his debut solo album, 'The Chronic'.
1993: Success of 'The Chronic' and Grammy Win
In 1993, 'The Chronic' was certified triple platinum, and Dr. Dre won a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance for "Let Me Ride."
1993: Battery Conviction
In 1993, Dr. Dre was convicted of battery following an altercation outside his home, where he was accused of breaking a man's jaw.
1993: Grammy Award and Album Success
In 1993, Dr. Dre's debut album 'The Chronic' made him one of the best-selling American music artists of the year and he also won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance for "Let Me Ride".
January 10, 1994: Arrest for High-Speed Chase
On January 10, 1994, Dr. Dre was arrested after leading police on a 90 mph chase in Beverly Hills, with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit.
September 1994: Sentenced to Prison
In September 1994, Dr. Dre was sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading no contest to violating his parole conditions from a 1993 battery conviction; he was also fined and ordered to attend an alcohol education program.
1994: Mentoring Warren G
In 1994, Dr. Dre mentored producers such as his stepbrother Warren G, leading to the multi-platinum debut Regulate... G Funk Era.
1994: Produced Snoop Dogg's Debut Album Doggystyle
In 1994, Dr. Dre produced Snoop Dogg's debut album Doggystyle, which became the first debut album to enter the Billboard 200 album charts at number one.
1994: Earliest recordings released
In 1994, Dr. Dre's earliest recordings were released in a compilation titled Concrete Roots.
1994: Pushing G-Funk Boundaries
In 1994, starting with the Murder was the Case soundtrack, Dr. Dre attempted to push the boundaries of G-funk further into a darker sound.
1995: Signed 2Pac to Death Row Records
In 1995, Death Row Records signed rapper 2Pac, and began to position him as their major star. He collaborated with Dr. Dre on the commercially successful single 'California Love'.
1995: Influence of G-funk
In 1995, Doggystyle and The Chronic's G-Funk sound became the basis for Notorious B.I.G's hit single, "Big Poppa."
1995: Collaborated with Ice Cube on Natural Born Killaz
In 1995, Dr. Dre collaborated with fellow N.W.A member Ice Cube for the song "Natural Born Killaz". Also, Dr. Dre recorded "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" for the film Friday.
1995: Mentoring Daz Dillinger
In 1995, Dr. Dre mentored producers such as Snoop Dogg's cousin Daz Dillinger, leading to the double-platinum debut Dogg Food by Tha Dogg Pound.
1995: Alleged Discovery of Burning Man
In 1995, an urban legend claimed Dr. Dre discovered Burning Man during a music video shoot.
March 1996: Leaves Death Row Records
In March 1996, Dr. Dre left Death Row Records amidst a contract dispute and concerns about Suge Knight's behavior.
May 25, 1996: Dr. Dre Marries Nicole Threatt
On May 25, 1996, Dr. Dre married Nicole (née Plotzker) Threatt, who was previously married to basketball player Sedale Threatt.
October 1996: Performed 'Been There, Done That' on SNL
In October 1996, Dre performed 'Been There, Done That' on Saturday Night Live.
November 26, 1996: Release of Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath
On November 26, 1996, the album 'Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath' was released, featuring songs by Dr. Dre and newly signed artists.
1996: Innovation of Sound and Transition to Akai MPC3000
By 1996, Dr. Dre looked to innovate his sound, recruiting Camara Kambon and being introduced to Melvin "Mel-Man" Bradford. He also switched from using the E-mu SP-1200 to the Akai MPC3000.
1996: End of Relationship with Michel'le
From 1987 to 1996, Dr. Dre dated singer Michel'le, marking the end of their relationship.
1996: Appeared on Blackstreet's "No Diggity"
In 1996, Dr. Dre appeared on the single 'No Diggity' by R&B group Blackstreet, which topped the Hot 100 charts.
1996: On-screen appearance in Set It Off
In 1996, Dr. Dre made his first on-screen appearance as a weapons dealer in the movie *Set It Off*.
1996: Departure from Death Row Records
In 1996, Dre left Death Row Records to establish his own label, Aftermath Entertainment.
1996: Release of First Round Knock Out
In 1996, a compilation album titled 'First Round Knock Out' featuring Dr. Dre's various tracks was released.
1996: Founding Aftermath Entertainment
In 1996, after founding Aftermath Entertainment, Dr. Dre took on producer Mel-Man, and his music took on a more synthesizer-based sound.
1996: Influence on Geto Boys and Eazy-E
In 1996, the Houston-based group Geto Boys' song "Still" and Eazy-E's "Wut Would U Do" were influenced by Dr. Dre's darker G-funk sound.
1997: Aftermath Records poor sales
By 1997, Death Row Records suffered poor sales, especially following the death of 2Pac and racketeering charges brought against Knight.
1997: Birth of Truice Young
In 1997, Dr. Dre and Nicole Threatt had a son named Truice.
1997: Produced tracks on The Firm's Album
In 1997, Dr. Dre produced several tracks on the Firm's 'The Album', however it was met with negative reviews. Rumors began to abound that Aftermath was facing financial difficulties. Aftermath Entertainment also faced a trademark infringement lawsuit by the underground thrash metal band Aftermath.
1997: Won Grammy for 'No Diggity'
In 1997, Dr. Dre won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal by a Duo or Group for his work on "No Diggity" with Blackstreet.
1998: Signing Eminem
In 1998, Dr. Dre signed Eminem to Aftermath Entertainment, marking a pivotal moment for both artists' careers.
May 1999: Release of Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000
In May 1999, Death Row Records released the compilation album Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000, influencing the title of Dre's upcoming album.
October 23, 1999: Dr. Dre Performs on Saturday Night Live
On October 23, 1999, Dr. Dre performed popular hit singles "Still D.R.E." and "Forgot About Dre" on NBC's Saturday Night Live.
November 16, 1999: Release of 2001
On November 16, 1999, Dr. Dre released his second solo album, '2001'.
1999: Eminem's Debut Album
In 1999, Dr. Dre produced three songs and provided vocals for two on Eminem's successful debut album The Slim Shady LP, bringing Eminem to public attention.
1999: Release of album 2001
In 1999, Dr. Dre released his second studio album, 2001.
1999: Collaboration with Mike Elizondo
In 1999, Dr. Dre started working with Mike Elizondo, a bassist, guitarist, and keyboardist.
2000: Title of Album
In 2000, Dr. Dre considered naming his album The Chronic 2000.
2000: Grammy Award and Up in Smoke Tour
In 2000, Dr. Dre won the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. He also joined the Up in Smoke Tour with Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Ice Cube in 2000.
2001: Lawsuits Involving Dr. Dre
During 2001, Dr. Dre was involved in several lawsuits, including one from Lucasfilm over the THX trademark.
2001: Birth of Truly Young
In 2001, Dr. Dre and Nicole Threatt had a daughter named Truly.
2001: Appearance in The Wash and Training Day
In 2001, Dr. Dre appeared in the movies *The Wash* and *Training Day*. His song "Bad Intentions" was featured on *The Wash* soundtrack.
2001: Dr. Dre's Financial Success
In 2001, Dr. Dre earned about $52 million from selling part of his share of Aftermath Entertainment and producing hit songs, making him the second highest-paid artist of the year according to Rolling Stone.
2001: Production for Other Artists
In 2001, Dr. Dre focused on producing for other artists, including Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP, Mary J. Blige's "Family Affair," and Eve's "Let Me Blow Ya Mind." He also signed Truth Hurts to Aftermath in 2001.
2001: Production on Bilal's Single
In 2001, Dr. Dre produced and rapped on singer Bilal's single "Fast Lane," which was released through Interscope.
2001: Studio Instrument and Sampling Preferences
In 2001, Dr. Dre stated his primary studio instrument is the Akai MPC3000, and he prefers musicians to recreate sounds he wants to use rather than sampling them.
2001: Aftermath Releases The Wash Soundtrack
In 2001, Dr. Dre's Aftermath label released the soundtrack to the movie The Wash, featuring several artists who ultimately did not release full-length albums with the label, and apparently ended their relationships with Dr. Dre.
2001: Release of 2001 and Live Instrumentation
In 2001, Dr. Dre's critically acclaimed second album, *2001*, featured live instrumentation replacing sampling. For every song on the album, Dre had a keyboardist, guitarist and bassist create the basic parts of the beat, while he himself programmed the drums, did the sequencing and overdubbing and added sound effects.
2001: Jay-Z Ghostwrites for Still D.R.E.
In 2001, Jay-Z ghostwrote lyrics for the single "Still D.R.E." from Dr. Dre's album 2001.
2001: Scott Storch's Contribution to 2001 Album
In 2001, Scott Storch contributed to Dr. Dre's second album 2001, being credited as a songwriter on several songs and playing keyboards on several tracks.
2001: Early Work on Detox
In 2001, work began on Dr. Dre's third studio album, Detox, initially described as "the most advanced rap album ever."
March 2002: Jacques Loussier Sues Aftermath
In March 2002, French jazz musician Jacques Loussier sued Aftermath for $10 million, claiming that Eminem track "Kill You" plagiarized his composition.
2002: End of Co-Production with Mel-Man
Around 2002, Dr. Dre and Mel-Man stopped sharing co-production credits, though Mel-Man remained a key influence on the Aftermath sound.
2002: Coors Light Commercial Appearance
In 2002, Dr. Dre appeared in TV commercials for Coors Light beer.
2002: Signing 50 Cent
In 2002, Dr. Dre signed 50 Cent to Aftermath Entertainment, further solidifying his label's prominence in the music industry.
2002: Signing 50 Cent to Aftermath
In 2002, Dr. Dre signed rapper 50 Cent to Aftermath in a joint venture with Interscope and Eminem's Shady Records.
2002: Executive Producer of The Eminem Show
In 2002, Dr. Dre was the executive producer of Eminem's album The Eminem Show, producing three songs and appearing in the video for "Without Me."
2002: Copyright Lawsuit Filed by Sa Re Ga Ma
In 2002, Sa Re Ga Ma, an Indian film and music company, filed a copyright lawsuit against Aftermath Entertainment, alleging an uncredited sample of Lata Mangeshkar's song in Truth Hurts' "Addictive".
February 2003: Executive Producer of Get Rich or Die Tryin'
In February 2003, Dr. Dre served as executive producer for 50 Cent's debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin', producing or co-producing four tracks.
September 2003: Former Associates Complain About Unreceived Compensation
In September 2003, a group of disgruntled former associates of Dr. Dre complained in The Source magazine that they had not received their full due for work on the label.
2003: Coors Light Commercial Appearance
In 2003, Dr. Dre appeared in TV commercials for Coors Light beer.
2003: Production of The D.O.C.'s Album
In 2003, Dr. Dre produced The D.O.C.'s album Deuce and made a guest appearance on several tracks.
2003: Dr. Dre Ordered to Pay The Fatback Band
In 2003, Dr. Dre was ordered to pay $1.5 million to The Fatback Band for alleged infringement regarding its song "Backstrokin'."
April 2004: XXL Magazine Statement on G-funk Influence
In the April 2004 issue of XXL magazine, Bad Boy Records producer Chucky Thompson stated that the sound of Doggystyle and The Chronic was the basis for the Notorious B.I.G.'s 1995 hit single "Big Poppa".
November 2004: Attack at Vibe Magazine Awards
In November 2004, Dr. Dre was attacked at the Vibe magazine awards show by a fan, resulting in G-Unit rapper Young Buck stabbing the attacker.
2004: Emphasis on Drum Equalization
In 2004, Dr. Dre told *Scratch* about the importance of equalizing drums properly and mentioned that he uses the digital audio workstation Pro Tools to combine hardware drum machines and vintage analog keyboards and synthesizers.
2004: Formal Music Theory Study
In 2004, Dr. Dre told *Scratch* magazine that he had been formally studying piano and music theory, and collaborated with Burt Bacharach.
2004: Dr. Dre Ranked 44th in Earnings
In 2004, Dr. Dre was ranked 44th with earnings of $11.4 million, primarily from production royalties.
2004: Mike Elizondo Discusses Collaboration with Dr. Dre
In 2004, Mike Elizondo claimed that he wrote the foundations of the hit Eminem song "The Real Slim Shady" when speaking about his work with Dr. Dre.
April 2005: Rolling Stone's Immortals List
In April 2005, Dr. Dre was ranked 54th out of 100 artists in Rolling Stone magazine's list "The Immortals: The Greatest Artists of All Time."
September 2005: Attacker Sentenced to Prison
In September 2005, Jimmy James Johnson, who attacked Dr. Dre in November 2004, was sentenced to a year in prison and ordered to stay away from Dr. Dre until 2008.
2005: Initial Detox Release Date
In 2005, Detox was initially set for a fall release, before being delayed.
November 2006: Production on Various Albums
In November 2006, Dr. Dre began working with Raekwon on his album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II. He also produced tracks for albums by Young Buck, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, and Jay-Z.
2006: Co-founding Beats Electronics
In 2006, Dr. Dre co-founded Beats Electronics with Jimmy Iovine.
2006: Scott Storch Interview with Rolling Stone
In 2006, Scott Storch, who contributed to Dr. Dre's second album, gave an interview with Rolling Stone.
2006: Snoop Dogg on Dr. Dre's Perfectionism
In 2006, Snoop Dogg revealed that Dr. Dre had made Bishop Lamont re-record a single bar of vocals 107 times, illustrating Dr. Dre's perfectionism.
February 2007: Production deal with Crucial Films
In February 2007, it was announced that Dr. Dre would produce dark comedies and horror films for Crucial Films, a company owned by New Line Cinema.
2007: Appearance on Timbaland's "Bounce"
In 2007, Dr. Dre appeared on Timbaland's track "Bounce" from the album Timbaland Presents Shock Value, alongside Missy Elliott and Justin Timberlake.
2007: Detox as Final Album
In 2007, Dr. Dre's Detox album was slated to be his final studio album.
June 2008: Snoop Dogg Claims Detox is Finished
According to a June 2008 Rolling Stone magazine report, Snoop Dogg claimed that Detox was finished.
July 2008: Launch of First Beats Headphones
In July 2008, the first brand of Beats headphones was launched.
August 23, 2008: Death of Andre Young Jr.
On August 23, 2008, Andre Young Jr., son of Dr. Dre and Jenita Porter, died at the age of 20 from an overdose of heroin and morphine.
December 15, 2008: Appearance in "Set It Off" Remix
On December 15, 2008, Dr. Dre appeared in the remix of the song "Set It Off" by Kardinal Offishall.
February 12, 2009: "Crack a Bottle" Reaches Top of Billboard Chart
On February 12, 2009, the single "Crack a Bottle" by Eminem, featuring Dr. Dre, reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
May 28, 2009: Premiere of Detox Snippet
On May 28, 2009, Dr. Dre premiered the first official snippet of Detox in a Dr Pepper commercial.
October 9, 2009: Deal with Hewlett-Packard
On October 9, 2009, Hewlett-Packard announced a deal to bundle Beats By Dr. Dre with some HP laptops and headsets.
2009: Beats Electronics Commercials
Beginning in 2009, Dr. Dre appeared in TV commercials that also featured his Beats Electronics product line. A Dr Pepper commercial featured Dr. Dre DJing with Beats headphones and playing a snippet off the never-released Detox album.
April 20, 2010: "Under Pressure" Announced as First Single
On April 20, 2010, Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre announced "Under Pressure" featuring Jay-Z as the first single from Detox.
June 16, 2010: "Under Pressure" Leaks Online
On June 16, 2010, "Under Pressure" leaked online in an unmixed form, leading to lukewarm reception and its eventual removal from the final album.
June 25, 2010: ASCAP Founders Award
On June 25, 2010, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers honored Dr. Dre with its Founders Award.
August 2010: Instrumental Album The Planets
In August 2010, Dr. Dre stated that an instrumental album, The Planets, was in its initial stages of production.
November 2010: Release of "Kush"
In November 2010, Dr. Dre released the single "Kush", a collaboration with Snoop Dogg and Akon.
2010: Detox Release Scheduled
In 2010, Detox was scheduled for release, following albums by 50 Cent and Eminem, with Dr. Dre handling the bulk of production for Eminem's Relapse.
2010: HP Laptops Commercial Cameo
In 2010, Dr. Dre had a cameo in a commercial for HP laptops that featured a plug for Beats Audio.
February 2011: Release of "I Need a Doctor"
In February 2011, Dr. Dre released "I Need a Doctor" with Eminem and Skylar Grey, achieving international chart success.
November 14, 2011: Announcement of Music Break
On November 14, 2011, Dr. Dre announced he would take a break from music after producing for Slim the Mobster and Kendrick Lamar.
2011: Burning Man Urban Legend
In 2011, an urban legend surfaced about Dr. Dre starting Burning Man in 1995.
2011: Chrysler 300S Commercial Narration
In 2011, the Chrysler 300S "Imported from Detroit" ad campaign had a commercial narrated by Dr. Dre and included a plug for Beats Audio.
January 9, 2012: Headlining Coachella
On January 9, 2012, it was announced that Dr. Dre would headline the final nights of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2012.
April 2012: Headlined Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
In April 2012, Dr. Dre headlined the final nights of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
2012: Forbes Estimates Dr. Dre's Net Worth
In 2012, Forbes estimated Dr. Dre's net worth at $270 million, later reporting that he acquired $110 million, making him the highest-paid artist of the year.
May 2013: Donation to USC for Arts Academy
In May 2013, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine donated a $70 million endowment to the University of Southern California to create the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation.
January 2014: Introduction of Beats Music
In January 2014, Beats Music was introduced and launched as a streaming service.
June 2014: Marsha Ambrosius on Detox
In June 2014, Marsha Ambrosius stated that she had been working on Detox, but the album would be released under a different title.
September 2014: Title Change Confirmation
In September 2014, Aftermath producer Dawaun Parker confirmed the title change of Detox and mentioned the creation of over 300 beats for the album.
September 2014: Inaugural Class at USC Academy
In September 2014, the first class of the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation began.
2014: Dr. Dre Purchases Home from Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen
In 2014, Dr. Dre purchased a $40 million home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles from Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen.
2014: Sale of Beats to Apple Excluded from Divorce
In October 2021, Dr. Dre was served more divorce papers during his grandmother's funeral. The financial owings in this case excluded his past stock ownership of Beats Electronics, prior to its sale to Apple in 2014.
2014: Sale of Beats to Apple
The 2014 sale of Beats to Apple contributed to what Forbes termed "the biggest single-year payday of any musician in history" for Dr. Dre.
March 2015: Michel'le Accuses Dr. Dre of Domestic Violence
In March 2015, Michel'le accused Dr. Dre of subjecting her to domestic violence during their relationship, though she did not initiate legal action.
August 1, 2015: Announcement of Compton Album
On August 1, 2015, Dr. Dre announced the release of Compton, inspired by the N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton, as his final album.
August 2015: Dr. Dre Addresses His Abusive Past
In August 2015, Dr. Dre, in an interview with Rolling Stone, lamented his abusive past, acknowledging some of the allegations against him and expressing regret.
August 21, 2015: Dr. Dre Apologizes for His Abusive Past
On August 21, 2015, Dr. Dre issued a statement to The New York Times apologizing to the women he had hurt and expressing deep regret for his past actions.
October 30, 2015: Jerry Heller Files Defamation Lawsuit
On October 30, 2015, Jerry Heller, co-founder of Ruthless Records, sued Dr. Dre and others over his portrayal in the film "Straight Outta Compton", alleging defamation and copyright infringement.
2015: Dr. Dre Becomes World's Richest Musical Performer
In 2015, Dr. Dre became the world's richest musical performer due to income from the 2014 sale of Beats to Apple.
2015: Production of Straight Outta Compton
In 2015, Dr. Dre co-produced *Straight Outta Compton*, a biographical film about N.W.A.
2015: Public Apology and Domestic Violence Accusations
In 2015, following the release of his album 'Compton,' Dr. Dre issued a public apology regarding his past actions. Also, in 2015, ex-partner Michel'le accused him of domestic violence.
February 12, 2016: Apple's Vital Signs Series
On February 12, 2016, it was revealed that Apple would create its first original scripted television series, Vital Signs, reflecting Dr. Dre's life, where he would serve as executive producer.
April 4, 2016: Suge Knight Accuses Dre of Kill-For-Hire Plot
On April 4, 2016, Suge Knight accused Dr. Dre and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department of plotting to have him killed in a 2014 shooting.
June 2016: Lawsuit Criticized in Court
In June 2016, the lawsuit filed by Jerry Heller was taken to court, where a judge criticized the filing.
September 2, 2016: Death of Jerry Heller
On September 2, 2016, Jerry Heller died of a car accident, preceded by a heart attack.
October 2016: Appearance at Bad Boy Reunion Tour
In October 2016, Dr. Dre, along with Snoop Dogg and others, joined Sean Combs on his Bad Boy reunion tour.
2016: Anderson .Paak Praises Dr. Dre
In 2016, Anderson .Paak praised Dr. Dre in an interview with Music Times, stating that working with Dre was a dream come true.
2016: Release of Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel'le
In 2016, the biopic Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel'le was released, portraying the abusive relationship between Dr. Dre and Michel'le. Dre threatened a lawsuit but never took action.
June 2017: Commitment to Compton High Performing Arts Center
In June 2017, Dr. Dre committed $10 million to the construction of a performing arts center for the new Compton High School.
2017: Dr. Dre Discusses Dee Barnes Incident in The Defiant Ones
In the 2017 film The Defiant Ones, Dr. Dre explained about the Dee Barnes incident again, calling it a low point in his life, expressing remorse, and condemning violence against women.
May 8, 2018: Trademark Loss to Gynecologist
On May 8, 2018, Dr. Dre lost a name trademark filing to a Pennsylvania gynecologist named Draion Burch.
June 26, 2018: Ordered to Pay $25 Million in Beats Lawsuit
On June 26, 2018, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine were ordered to pay $25 million to Steven Lamar for unpaid royalties related to the design of Beats headphones.
September 2018: Cancellation of "Vital Signs"
In September 2018, Apple cancelled the television series "Vital Signs," on which Dr. Dre was an executive producer, due to its graphic content.
October 2018: Lawsuit Dropped, Heller's Estate Owes Millions
In October 2018, Jerry Heller's lawsuit against Dr. Dre was dropped, costing Heller's estate $35 million for punitive and $75 million for compensatory damages.
2018: Production on Anderson .Paak's Oxnard
In 2018, Dr. Dre produced four songs on Anderson .Paak's album Oxnard, also serving as the executive producer.
2019: Executive Producer of Ventura
In 2019, Dr. Dre was the executive producer on Anderson .Paak's album Ventura.
June 2020: Nicole Plotzker-Young Files for Divorce
In June 2020, Dr. Dre's wife, Nicole Plotzker-Young, filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
November 2020: Nicole Accuses Dr. Dre of Violence and Infidelity
In November 2020, Nicole Plotzker-Young filed legal claims accusing Dr. Dre of verbal violence and infidelity during their marriage, which Dr. Dre's representative denied.
2020: Production on Eminem's Music to Be Murdered By
In 2020, Dr. Dre was the executive producer of Eminem's album Music to Be Murdered By and produced four songs on the album and two more on the deluxe edition.
2020: Expected groundbreaking of Compton High Performing Arts Center
In 2020, the groundbreaking of the performing arts center for the new Compton High School was expected.
January 5, 2021: Dr. Dre Suffers Brain Aneurysm
On January 5, 2021, Dr. Dre suffered a brain aneurysm and was admitted to the ICU at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
July 2021: Dr. Dre Ordered to Pay Spousal Support
In July 2021, Dr. Dre was ordered to pay $293,306 a month to Nicole Threatt in spousal support by the Los Angeles Superior Court.
August 2021: Dr. Dre's Daughter Speaks Out About Homelessness
In August 2021, Dr. Dre's oldest daughter, LaTanya Young, revealed she was homeless and struggling to support her four children.
September 30, 2021: Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Announcement
On September 30, 2021, it was revealed that Dr. Dre would perform at the Super Bowl LVI halftime show.
December 2021: Dr. Dre Finalizes Divorce from Nicole Threatt
In December 2021, Dr. Dre finalized his divorce from Nicole Threatt for a reported sum of $100 million of his estate.
December 2021: Dr. Dre Divorce Settlement Finalized
In December 2021, Dr. Dre's divorce from Nicole Young was settled, with Dre keeping most of his assets due to the prenuptial agreement but paying a significant settlement.
December 2021: Dr. Dre Featured in Grand Theft Auto Online
In December 2021, a Grand Theft Auto Online update featured Dr. Dre and added some of his previously unreleased tracks.
February 3, 2022: Release of "The Contract" EP
On February 3, 2022, Dr. Dre released the previously unreleased tracks featured in Grand Theft Auto Online as an EP titled "The Contract".
February 13, 2022: Super Bowl LVI Halftime Performance
On February 13, 2022, Dr. Dre performed at the Super Bowl LVI halftime show, which later won a Primetime Emmy Award.
September 2022: Composition for Death for Hire
In September 2022, it was reported that Dr. Dre would compose the original score for the animated series Death for Hire: The Origin of Tehk City.
2022: Apple Subtracted 200 Million from Beats Deal
In 2022, it was found that Apple had subtracted $200 million from the Beats deal after Tyrese Gibson revealed the news of the acquisition on social media.
February 2023: Listening Party for Casablanco
In February 2023, Dr. Dre and Marsha Ambrosius held a listening party in Los Angeles for their album Casablanco.
September 2023: Jesus is King Part II Leaks
Around September 2023, Kanye West and Dr. Dre's joint album, Jesus Is King Part II, which remains unreleased, surfaced online in leaks.
February 2024: Launch of Gin and Juice Cocktails
In February 2024, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre launched a range of pre-mixed cocktails named after their hit single, Gin and Juice.
March 2024: Dr. Dre Reveals He Suffered Three Strokes
In March 2024, Dr. Dre revealed that during his hospitalization for a brain aneurysm in 2021, he also suffered three strokes.
March 2024: Dr. Dre Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
In March 2024, Dr. Dre was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
June 28, 2024: Release of Casablanco
On June 28, 2024, the album Casablanco by Dr. Dre and Marsha Ambrosius was released and received critical acclaim.
July 12, 2024: Production on Eminem's "The Death of Slim Shady"
On July 12, 2024, Dr. Dre produced two songs, "Lucifer" and "Road Rage", on Eminem's album *The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)*. The album received mixed reviews.
October 2024: Dr. Dre Sued by Marriage Counselor
In October 2024, Dr. Dre was hit with a $10 million lawsuit by his former marriage counselor, alleging threatening and harassing messages.
November 1, 2024: Release of "Gorgeous"
On November 1, 2024, Snoop Dogg released "Gorgeous", the first single from his upcoming album *Missionary*, which is entirely produced by Dr. Dre.
December 13, 2024: Release of "Missionary"
On December 13, 2024, Snoop Dogg released *Missionary*, an album produced by Dr. Dre, via Death Row/Aftermath and Interscope. The album features guest appearances from several artists and received generally favorable reviews.
